P.E.I. teams start strong
Islanders, Chevys post solid victories
P.E.I. teams got off to winning starts in the Baseball Canada 2018 Atlantic 13-and-under championship on Thursday. The P.E.I. representative, Capital District Islanders from Charlottetown, scored 28 runs in posting two convincing victories while the host Summerside Chevys scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to break open a close game en route to an 8-4 victory over the St. John’s Capitals. The Chevys were also looking to improve to 2-0 (won-lost) in an early evening game against the Halifax Mets (N.S. 1). The result of this game was not available at deadline time, but check www. journalpioneer.com for a game update. The Islanders started things off with a bang as Luke Coughlin, who also launched a mammoth home run over the right-field fence, and Graysen LaPorte combined to throw a no-hitter in an 11-1 victory over the Truro Bearcats (N.S.) in a morning game. Then in the afternoon, the Islanders trimmed Mount Pearl (N.L. 2) by a 17-3 score.
Summerside 8 St. John’s 4
Owen Jones worked 5 1/3 innings and Hayden Ellis recorded the final five outs to earn the save as the two Chevys’ pitchers combined to not allow a hit as well. Six walks and four errors in the field contributed to St. John’s runs. Offensively, Josh Burgess went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs to pace the Chevys. Tyson Wedge, Cole Echlin, George Gallant and Bennett Gallant also plated runs. Ellis (1-4, run scored), Wedge (1-2, two walks), Echlin (1-3, walk), Caleb Gallant (1-3) and MacKenzie Des Roches (1-2, walk, two runs scored) chipped in with single hits for the Chevys. Mitchell Noseworthy was the pitcher of record for the Capitals. The Chevys play one game on Friday against Kennebecasis Valley (N.B. 2) at 1:30 p.m.
Capital District 11 Truro 1
Shannon MacDonald had a big game at the plate with a 3-for-3 summary, including a run scored, to lead the Islanders. Coughlin had a big game at the plate as well, going 1-for-1, scoring two runs, driving in a pair and drawing three free passes. Coughlin (1-1, two runs scored, two RBIs, three walks), Cameron Doyle (1-3, three runs scored, RBI), Brett Arsenault (1-2, three runs scored, two walks), LaPorte (1-3, RBI), Jack Rowell (1-3, run scored) had Capital District’s other hits. Cole Burbidge took the pitching loss.
Capital District 17 Mount Pearl 3
The Islanders struck for three runs in the top of the first, second and fourth innings to open a commanding 10-3 lead. Capital District added on seven runs in the top of the sixth to seal the mercyrule victory. LaPorte posted a 4-for-4 batting summary that included three runs scored and three runs batted in to lead the Islanders’ attack. Jack MacKinnon (1-2, run scored, walk) plated five runs while Brayden Bruce chipped in with two runs batted in and single RBIs were credited to Coughlin and Wil White. Losing pitcher Liam Noble (2-3, run scored) was Mount Pearl’s top hitter. MacKinnon, White, Jack Burke and Brett Arsenault pitched for Capital District.